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Ninetieth Minute Powers Home in Coral Cup
11/03/09

1st (7) Ninetieth Minute 14/1
2nd (13) Mirage Dore 14/1
3rd (20) Pause And Clause 9/1
4th (25) Star Of Angels 40/1
5th (15) Kawagino 66/1

Trainer Tom Taaffe added to his list of Cheltenham Festival winners when Ninetieth Minute took the Coral Cup under Paddy Flood.

Ninetieth Minute had not run for 80 days since winning a three-runner race at Thurles, but the absence was part of Taaffe’s plan to prevent the horse from going off the boil. He said: “I believe you need a fresh horse at the Festival, so I just pulled up with him. It was the same with Kicking King [former totesport Gold Cup winner] and Fingeronthepulse last year.”

His horse’s victory belied the theory that some Irish horses are handicapped too highly when they run in Britain. Taaffe said: “You can call me biased, but this horse was put up 12lb for his first win this season and 8lb for his next, so he’s been hit by the handicapper, but once they get to 140 they are supposed to be on a level playing field in both countries, and that’s a view Phil Smith [Britain’s handicapper] took.

“A few more pounds probably wouldn’t have stopped him, but it’s all about winning and he’s now won five from ten.”

Ninetieth Minute is owned by Dermot Cox, who is well-known in Ireland as head of a cash-and-carry business. His son, David, discovered the horse as a two-year-old in a neighbour’s field, purchased him from his breeder, and later bought Ninetieth Minute’s dam, Myown. She has since produced two full sisters to today’s winner.

Taaffe added: “I’d like to run him back here over fences one day. He’ll go novice chasing next year and being by Old Vic out of a staying family that’s a logical route. He might run at Punchestown, because his owner is a driving force at that track, but if not he’ll go out in a field for a holiday.”

Flood, having his first winner at The Festival, said: "I can't describe the feeling! It's just wow! People say that it's the best feeling ever but you don't understand until it happens.

"He didn't travel great early on. He's a big horse with a big stride on him and it just took me half the race to get into a rhythm. I didn't get a nice position until at the top of the hill but to fair to the horse, he's toughed it out.

"I've been on for both his victories this season and I have got on with him and he's galloped on today. Tom has been super this season and I can't thank him enough.”

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	Ninetieth Minute T J Taaffe	P W Flood 10st 3lbs	14 - 1 Winner
2	Mirage Dore Miss Lucinda V Russell	Mrs R Dobbin 10st 0lbs	14 - 1 1 1/2 length
3	Pause And Clause Miss E C Lavelle	Jack Doyle 10st 0lbs	9 - 1 1/2 length
4	Star Of Angels D Pipe	H Frost 10st 0lbs	40 - 1 7 lengths
5	Kawagino J W Mullins	W P Kavanagh 10st 0lbs	66 - 1 1 length
6	Kirbybroguelantern T Hogan	A P Cawley 10st 0lbs	33 - 1 7 lengths
7	Copsale Lad N J Henderson	R J Killoran 10st 0lbs	100 - 1 1 1/4 length
8	Dancing Tornado M Hourigan	D J Casey 10st 3lbs	20 - 1 Head
9	Convincing J J Murphy	N P Madden 10st 0lbs	100 - 1 6 lengths
10	The Polomoche N J Henderson	B J Geraghty 10st 8lbs	6 - 1 1/2 length
11	Onnix F Doumen	F Keniry 10st 3lbs	33 - 1 3/4 length
12	Thundering Star P F Nicholls	Harry Skelton 10st 0lbs	33 - 1 1/2 length
13	Psycho A J Martin	D N Russell 10st 8lbs	7 - 1 Head
14	Tisfreetdream P A Pritchard	O Nelmes 10st 0lbs	100 - 1 12 lengths
15	Franchoek A King	A P McCoy 11st 4lbs	16 - 1 2 lengths
16	Chief Yeoman Miss V Williams	A Coleman 10st 2lbs	25 - 1 7 lengths
17	Great Endeavour D Pipe	T J Murphy 10st 0lbs	10 - 1 2 1/2 lengths
18	Door Boy J Howard Johnson	Denis O'Regan 10st 0lbs	33 - 1 4 1/2 lengths
19	Lough Derg D Pipe	T Scudamore 11st 12lbs	16 - 1 3 lengths
20	Ambobo M Brassil	P Townend 10st 2lbs	12 - 1 5 lengths
21	Serabad P Bowen	P J Brennan 10st 11lbs	25 - 1 19 lengths
22	Gee Dee Nen Jim Best	S E Durack 10st 0lbs	20 - 1 Neck
23	Larkwing E McNamara	P Carberry 10st 3lbs	22 - 1 27 lengths
24	Pierrot Lunaire P F Nicholls	R Walsh 11st 2lbs	14 - 1 1 3/4 length
25	Swordsman C Gordon	C Bolger 10st 0lbs	150 - 1 2 3/4 lengths
26	Pouvoir A King	W Hutchinson 10st 0lbs	25 - 1 4 lengths
27	Doubly Guest N J Henderson	Felix De Giles 10st 0lbs	100 - 1 9 lengths
Non Runner	Altilhar G L Moore	J E Moore 10st 0lbs

MIRAGE PLAN NEARLY COMES OFF

A plan hatched in October almost came to fruition when Mirage Dore lost out by a length and a half when finishing second in the Coral Cup under amateur Rose Dobbin.

“We made a plan after his last time to come here and it was a great run. On the one hand I’m delighted he ran so well but it’s a bit of an anticlimax to be second,” said the runner-up’s trainer Lucinda Russell.

“He was further back than we had planned so did well to get there. He’ll go to Aintree next.”

Trainer Emma Lavelle hopes third-placed Pause And Clause has a bright future. “It was only his fourth run over hurdles and he’s very exciting. He put his heart and soul into it today and will be a lovely horse for the future. Having seen him after the race I’m not sure he’ll run again this season, we’ll have to see. But he’s an exciting horse to have.”

CORAL CUP FACTS & FIGURES

1. Other than the races added to the four-day Festival in 2005, the Coral Cup is the newest contest at The Festival, having been introduced in 1993, the year after the first running of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.

2. The first winner, Olympian, picked up an additional £50,000 bonus having won the Imperial Cup at Sandown Park the previous weekend. The bonus, increased to £75,000 in 2006, is offered again by Sunderlands, bookmaking sponsor of the Imperial Cup, to any horse that wins the Sandown race and then goes on to success in any contest at The Festival.

3. The fastest time in the 14 runnings was set in 2000 by What’s Up Boys, who scored in 4m 53.8s, beating the previous best of 4m 57.0s set by Big Strand in 1997.

4. Ireland have won the race on five occasions, most recently with Sky’s The Limit in 2006, trained by Edward O’Grady, who also sent out Time For A Run to score in 1994.

5. Martin Pipe is the leading trainer in the contest, having scored three times with Olympian (1993), Big Strand (1997) and Ilnamar (2002). Among current trainers, Edward O’Grady and Philip Hobbs (What’s Up Boys 2000 & Monkerhostin 2004) lead the way.

6. No jockey has won the Coral Cup more than once.

7. Both What’s Up Boys (2000) and Idole First (2005) scored at 33/1 and are they are the longest priced winners, while Olympian (1993) and Xenophon (2003) were successful at 4/1, the shortest priced scorers, and they are also the only two favourites to have obliged.

CORAL CUP (HANDICAP HURDLE) PREVIOUS RESULTS

2008-WINNER-NAIAD DU MISSELOT

2007-WINNER-BURNTOAKBOY 9-09-12 Owner-Dr Richard & Laura Newland; Trainer-Dr Richard Newland; Jockey-Sam Jones; SP-10/1
2ND-Powerstation 7-11-00 Owner-Fat Frog Syndicate; Trainer-Michael John Phillips IRE; Jockey-Denis O’Regan; SP-12/1
3RD-Baron De Feypo 9-10-03 Owner-Rita Shah; Trainer-Oliver Brady; Jockey-Niki O’Shea; SP-20/1
4TH-Oscatello 7-10-08 Owner-Rye Braune; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-8/1
28 ran, Time-5m 07.10s; Dist-3, 5, 1½ 6/1 Fav Copsale Lad (16th)

2006-WINNER SKY’S THE LIMIT 5-11-12 Owner-Raymond Rooney; Trainer-Edward O’Grady IRE; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-11/1
2ND-Strangely Brown 5-11-03 Owner-We Didn’t Name Him Syndicate; Trainer-Eric McNamara IRE; Jockey-Brian Byrnes; SP-25/1
3RD-Dom D’Orgeval 6-11-12 Owner-Jane Williams; Trainer-Nick Williams; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-20/1
4TH-Phar Bleu 5-11-06 Owner-The Stewart Family; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-10/1
30 ran, Time-5m 02.50s; Dist-4, .75, nk 5/1 Fav No Where To Hyde (Fell)

2005-WINNER-IDOLE FIRST 6-10-10 Owner-Direct Sales UK Ltd; Trainer-Venetia Williams; Jockey-Alan O’Keeffe; SP-33/1
2ND-Dancing Bay 8-11-01 Owner-Elite Racing Club; Trainer-Nicky Richards; Jockey-Mick Fitzgerald; SP-14/1
3RD-Tumbling Dice 6-11-01 Owner-Mrs John Donegan; Trainer-Tom Taaffe IRE; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-16/1
4TH-Covent Garden 7-10-07 Owner-Ada Partnership; Trainer-Howard Johnson; Jockey-Tony Dobbin; SP-14/1
29 ran, Time-5m 04.80s; Dist-5, 6, 5 100/30 Fav Distant Prospect (9th)

2004-WINNER-MONKERHOSTIN 7-10-08 Owner-Martin St Quinton; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-13/2
2ND-Court Shareef 9-9-11 Owner-Derek and Cheryl Holder; Trainer-Richard Price; Jockey-Wayne Hutchinson; SP-200/1
3RD-Rhinestone Cowboy 8-11-05 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-Mr J P Magnier; SP-5/1 Fav
4TH-Mughas 5-10-05 Owner-B Winfield, C Fenton & A Longman; Trainer-Alan King; Jockey-Robert Thornton; SP-11/2
27 ran, Time-4m 59.50s; Dist-1, 1 1/4, 2 1/2

2003-WINNER-XENOPHON 7-11-00 Owner-Lane Syndicate; Trainer-Tony Martin IRE; Jockey-Mick FitzGerald; SP-4/1 Fav
2ND-Samon 6-11-03 Owner-The Macca & Growler Partnership; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-David Casey; SP-25/1
3RD-Spectrometer 6-11-08 Owner-Concertina Racing; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-10/1
4TH-Emotional Moment 6-11-04 Owner-Watercork Syndicate; Trainer-Tom Taaffe; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-7/1
27 ran, Time-5m 4.30s, Dist-3.5, 1, 3

2002-WINNER-ILNAMAR 6-10-05 Owner-Joe Moran; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Rodi Greene; SP-25/1
2ND-Joss Naylor 7-10-00 Owner-Darren Mercer; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-Liam Cooper; SP-13/2
3RD-Master Tern 7-10-03 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-Tony Dobbin; SP-8/1
4TH-Stromness 5-10-03 Owner-Lady Harris; Trainer-Alan King; Jockey-Robert Thornton; SP-12/1
27 ran, Time-5m 15.0s, Dist-8, 3, 4 11/2 Fav Golden Alpha (26th)
2001 - No Race (Foot and Mouth Disease)
2000-WINNER-WHAT’S UP BOYS 6-10-03 Owner-RJB Partners; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Mr Paul Flynn; SP-33/1
2ND-Native Dara 7-10-04 Owner-Oriel Two Syndicate; Trainer-Noel Meade IRE; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-25/1
3RD-Ross Moff 7-10-03 Owner-Seamus Ross; Trainer-Tony Martin IRE; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-15/2
4TH-Vanilla Man 7-10-00 Owner-Mrs Paul Duffin; Trainer-Paddy Mullins IRE; Jockey-Tommy Treacy; SP-25/1
26 ran, Time-4m 53.80s, Dist-nk, 3, 2, 7/1 Fav Brandon Court (5th)

1999-WINNER KHAYRAWANI 7-11-03 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Christy Roche IRE; Jockey-Fran Berry; SP-16/1
2ND-Miltonfield 10-10-00 Owner-J C Savage; Trainer-John Mulhern IRE; Jockey-Conor O’Dwyer; SP-33/1
3RD-Generosa 6-10-10 Owner-Trish Hyde; Trainer-John Hassett IRE; Jockey-Tommy Treacy; SP-12/1
4TH-Darapour 5-10-00 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-14/1
30 ran, Time-5m 6.6s, Dist-hd, nk, 5 13/2 Fav Archive Footage (25th)

1998-WINNER-TOP CEES 8-10-00 Owner-Charlton Bloodstock Ltd; Trainer-Lynda Ramsden; Jockey-Barry Fenton; SP-11/1
2ND-Khayrawani 6-10-06 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Christy Roche IRE; Jockey-Fran Berry; SP-20/1
3RD-Royal Marine 6-10-00 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Arthur Moore IRE; Jockey-Conor O’Dwyer;SP-10/1
4TH-Like A Lion 7-10-00 Owner-Orla Finucane; Trainer-Donald Swan IRE; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-12/1
21 ran, Time-5m 1.1s, Dist-1.25, .75, 1 6/1 Fav Daraydan (10th)

1997-WINNER-BIG STRAND 8-10-00 Owner-E C Jones; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Jamie Evans; SP-16/1
2ND-Allegation 7-11-06 Owner-Martin Pipe Racing Club; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-20/1
3RD-Castle Sweep 6-12-00 Owner-Lord Vestey; Trainer-David Nicholson; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-14/1
4TH-Tullymurry Toff 6-10-10 Owner-John Wilson and J H Riley; Trainer-Malcolm Jefferson; Jockey-Eddie Callaghan;
SP-9/2 Fav 28 ran, Time-4m 57.0s, Dist-sh, hd, 1

1996-WINNER-TRAINGLOT 9-10-03 Owner-Marquesa de Moratalla; Trainer-Jimmy FitzGerald; Jockey-Mark Dwyer; SP-11/2
2ND-Treasure Again 7-10-00 Owner-J H Gwynne; Trainer-Merrita Jones; Jockey-Derek Byrne; SP-9/1
3RD-New Co 8-10-07 Owner-Mrs L C Ronan and Anne Daly; Trainer-Mouse Morris IRE; SP-9/1
4TH-Barna Boy 8-10-02 Owner-Lynn Wilson; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Mick FitzGerald; SP-16/1
20 ran, Time-5m 12.2s, Dist-hd, 1.25, 2 7/2 Fav Time For A Run (8th)

1995-WINNER-CHANCE COFFEY 10-10-00 Owner-Paddy O'Donnell; Trainer-Pat O'Donnell IRE; Jockey-Gerry O'Neill; SP-11/1
2ND-Derrymoyle 6-10-10 Owner-Herb Stanley; Trainer-Michael Cunningham IRE; Jockey-Mark Dwyer; SP-12/1
3RD-Time For A Run 8-11-10 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Edward O'Grady IRE; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-10/1
4TH-Collier Bay 5-10-06 Owner-Wally Sturt; Trainer-Jim Old; Jockey-Tom Grantham; SP-7/1
30 ran, Time-5m 18.4s, Dist-3.5, sh, 3 6/1 Fav Lemon’s Mill (17th)